Google Drive cloud storage services tipped for April release

The masters at Google have been hard at work on what we know as Google Drive. The cloud storage service that is still for the most part unknown, that Google has big plans for in the coming months. We know it's coming soon, but that is about all we know. This cloud storage online file system has been long awaited from Google and now we are hearing rumors of an April release.

According to GigaOM people close to the matter have detailed that we will be seeing Google Drive land sometime in April for the general public. Although I can see it possibly being launched in a beta test first. Google Drive will offer similar options like Box.net and the popular Dropbox only Google has a few advantages that will set them apart from the pack.

For one, millions of people already have a Gmail account so why sign up for the other services? Google Drive will offer 1GB of cloud storage for free (Dropbox offers 2GB) and then they'll have paid options allowing for more storage. For two, Android users already sync everything from contacts, calender, music, apps and more with Google's cloud, just not Drive as Drive would be a more personal cloud storage option. And finally because Google will be opening API's to developers to have access and use Drive too. That means other Android apps can have access and use Android's simple "share" feature and save files or things to users Google Drive storage.

I can't wait to see what Google has in store, being able to use everything with one account and sign in, and dropping things like Dropbox sure would be convenient. Gmail storage limits have increased steadily over the years. I'm hopeful that Google Drive will do the same and at least match competitors out of the gate if it does indeed launch next month.

Box gives me 50 GB for free and works equally well on my HTC, ProBook and Kindle Fire. I still use Dropbox because it has higher upload limits than box. I admit have such fragmented storage isn’t super convenient (add both Amazon’s cloud and Google Docs to my list) but it’s not so inconvenient that I am willing to trade it for a paid option.

I use my digital storage more like a safety deposit box at a bank though with limited file sharing and the like. I like cloud storage options (especially with having unlimited data) but am still “old fashioned” enough to prefer physical storage (if I am going to pay for it) that doesn’t require a connection.

firethorn

Only a single gig for free? Hm, not sure I find that very attractive… my dropbox is already at 7.5GB free storage and is used as a switchboard between all my devices and computers.

Alex Murphy

There’s no way it’ll only be 1 gig. I already get close to 10 GB for free through Docs & Gmail, and this in essence Docs on steroids, so limiting to 1 GB with Google’s resources makes NO sense. Also consider Google Music, where you can upload 20,000 songs for FREE. At 5mb a piece, that’s 100 GB of storage right there.

Article correction: If this is supposed to be a news article, you shouldn’t say Gmail has “billions” of users. It’s extremely popular (400-500 million, I believe?) but saying billions takes away some credibility from the article. That sentence should also end in a “?”

http://www.androidcommunity.com Cory Gunther

Oops yea meant millions. I agree and hopefully we get more like 10GB or more

Mary

1GB of space doesn’t make me want to move from gotabackup.com where I have unlimited space for a very low price. Also I don’t want Google snooping through all my data and photographs.

Mary

And it works on Android devices!

Ms62140

@mary i think youre talking about their backup system which is unlimited but still they prices are cheap for 512 giga storage space enough to tempt me to go paid